Covid 19 - What you need to know - College of Policing
2020
The College of Policing, the professional body for everyone who works for the police service in England and Wales has recently published guidance regarding the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
This guidance is important as it is expected to inform the approach most Police forces will adopt regarding the regulations and their enforcement. The guidance advises a a four 'E' approach:
“Engage – officers will initially encourage voluntary compliance.
Explain – officers will stress the risks to public health and to the NHS. Educate people about the risks and the wider social factors.
Encourage – officers will seek compliance and emphasise the benefits to the NHS by staying at home, how this can save lives and reduce risk for more vulnerable people in society.
Enforce – officers will direct individuals to return to the place where they live. This may include providing reasonable instruction of the route by which the person is required to return. Officers may also remove that person to the place where they live, using reasonable force where it is a necessary and proportionate means of ensuring compliance.
Officers will make sensible decisions, employ their judgement and continue to use other powers.”
The guidance also advises officers ‘no person may leave the place where they are living without a reasonable excuse. Reasonable excuses include:
- obtaining basic necessities
- exercise (once a day)
- meeting a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions
- seeking medical assistance
- attending a funeral
- moving house
- visiting a place of worship
- caring for or assisting a vulnerable person who is someone: aged 70 years or older / under 70 years old with an underlying health condition / pregnant.”